Quote: magicjay38 said: I recall that I mentioned autos to illustrate the positve effect of litigation in improving car safety. It puts the onus of enforcement on the industry and away from legislative initiative. I never said that guns were defective. Only that a prudent person could forsee the consequinces of the commerce there in. That is the point of negligence.
And gun manufacturers also make sure that their products are as safe as possible while still performing the job they're supposed to do. That's why they've made safeties, worked to prevent jamming, and reduced the risk of a gun going off accidentally when dropped and so forth. So, they do make the products as safe as possible. They cannot be negligent just because the user uses it to commit a homicide.
Proportionality, Doc. Since they profit from the trade, they have a greater financial responsibility. The costs to society of gun violence have until now been external to the market. The Industry has succesfully shifted that cost to society as a whole. I'm saying that gun consumers, merchants and manufacturers should pay the costs of the product. This is Econ 101 stuff.
Quote: The Doctor said
Quote: magicjay38 said: In previous post I asked the question 'Why should the taxpayers (you & I) be expected to bear the cost of gun violence while the arms industry profits? The post about market externalities was completely avoided except to say that it would increase the black market for guns! You don't like the insurance idea, fine. The revenues can also be collected through taxes and tariffs.
Why should the taxpayers (you & I) be expected to bear the cost of gun violence while the arms industry profits?
Why should the taxpayers (you & I) be expected to bear the cost of gun violence while the arms industry profits?
Answer the goddamn question!
Why do I have to work my ass off for little money to support a welfare state of which I take no benefit? Why do I have to pay taxes for an education system when I have no children of my own? Why? Why? Why? Because that's the way things work. I also pay for the medical costs of people who get involved in auto accidents and have no insurance. Should the automotive industry pay for that as well?
Why should I have to pay for the war in Iraq! Why should my state face financial crises when it pays out far more in Federal taxes than it recieves in Federal benefits? It's completely off topic.
BTW, I am not anti-gun or gun ownership. The selling point for me is that if the gubmnt takes away peoples guns, then only gubmnt will have them! I probably fear the gov for different reasons than the guys in the militias, but I have those same fears.
Sincerely,
Bubbajay38
"Conservatives are not necessarily stupid, but most stupid people are conservatives."John Stuart MillAmerica is the only country that went from barbarism to decadence without civilization in between.Oscar WildeHe who dies with the most toys is nonetheless dead.
